MANG solider dies in tank rollover

An investigation continues into the death of a Senatobia-based Mississippi Army National Guard soldier killed May 30 in tank rollover incident during a “large-scale training exercise” at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif. Three other members of the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team, headquartered in Tupelo, were injured. The 155th has members from all over the state. Lt. Col. Christian Patterson of the 155th ABCT said May 31 that families of the soldiers had been notified, but did not release the name of the soldier who had died. That soldier was assigned to the 2nd Battalion of the 198th Armored Regiment, and was one of four soldiers in an M1A2 Abrams tank that had rolled over. Three soldiers were transferred by military helicopter to the Loma Linda University Medical Center in California. Two had been released by the evening of May 31. One remained in stable condition. A group of 3,800 members of the 155th ABCT arrived at Fort Irvin on May 19. Training was scheduled to run through mid-June. Also participating are National Guard members from California, Missouri, and members of the Air Force. (Source: Sun Herald 05/30/17) Gulf Coast Note: Jo Ann Boussouar of Milton, Fla., the mother of the deceased guardsman posted on her Facebook site that she had lost her son, Sgt. Kyle Clayton Thomas, 24, in that accident, according to the Pensacola News Journal.